Polymarket Targets $12–15B Valuation, Trump Pardons Binance Co-Founder CZ

Aster Launches ‘Rocket Launch’ Program to Boost Early-Stage Projects, Debuts With $200,000 APRO Campaign:

Aster, a decentralized trading platform with over 4.6 million users, has launched Rocket Launch, a new initiative aimed at accelerating early-stage crypto projects by providing liquidity, trading activity, and user engagement. The program rewards users with both $ASTER tokens and participating project tokens based on trading volume, while requiring participants to hold $ASTER to qualify. Each campaign’s reward pool is funded through project contributions and $ASTER buybacks, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem. The first campaign features oracle provider APRO, offering a total reward pool of $200,000 in $ASTER and $AT tokens. The initiative strengthens Aster’s position as a dual Spot and Perpetual DEX that connects traders, token holders, and new projects in a mutually beneficial cycle.

Meteora and Co-Founder Ben Chow Face Amended Class Action Alleging Fraud Behind MELANIA and LIBRA Memecoins

A class action lawsuit has been amended against Meteora and its co-founder Ben Chow, accusing them of orchestrating a fraudulent scheme involving memecoins such as MELANIA and LIBRA. Plaintiffs claim the projects used public figures like Melania Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei to lend credibility to what they describe as a “coordinated liquidity trap.” Both tokens spiked and then crashed shortly after launch, allegedly as insiders dumped their holdings. The complaint alleges that Chow, along with Kelsier Ventures and its founders, launched at least 15 similar tokens under the same pattern. Chow has denied wrongdoing and resigned from Meteora in February following the controversy.

President Trump Pardons Binance Co-Founder Changpeng Zhao, Declares End to Biden’s “War on Crypto”

U.S. President Donald Trump has officially pardoned Binance co-founder Changpeng Zhao, erasing his 2023 conviction for violating anti-money-laundering laws. Zhao, who served a four-month sentence in 2024, can now potentially facilitate Binance’s return to the U.S. after its two-year absence. The White House accused former President Joe Biden of waging an unnecessary “war on crypto” that damaged the nation’s reputation as a tech leader, declaring that the crackdown is now over. The Wall Street Journal reported that Binance had lobbied for Zhao’s pardon for nearly a year and has been a key supporter of the Trump family’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial. The move adds to Trump’s list of controversial pardons, including those related to the January 6 Capitol attack.

Polymarket Targets $12–15 Billion Valuation in New Funding Round as Prediction Markets Boom

Polymarket is reportedly in early talks to raise new funding at a valuation between $12 billion and $15 billion, according to Bloomberg. The crypto-native prediction market, founded in 2020, has seen explosive growth, jumping from a $1.2 billion valuation in June to $9 billion earlier this month following Intercontinental Exchange’s $2 billion investment. Its rival Kalshi is also attracting heavy investor interest, now valued between $10 billion and $12 billion after a recent $5 billion round. Polymarket is expanding rapidly, adding bitcoin deposits, launching equity and index prediction markets, and preparing to re-enter the U.S. after receiving regulatory clearance. It will also act as DraftKings’ clearinghouse for prediction markets and has secured licensing deals with the NHL.

JPMorgan Says Bitcoin Miners Now Trade on AI Potential as Correlation With BTC Price Breaks Down

JPMorgan analysts report a growing disconnect between bitcoin mining stocks and bitcoin’s price, noting that miners’ combined market capitalization has surged since July even as bitcoin trades sideways. The shift reflects miners’ increasing focus on artificial intelligence infrastructure, which is now driving valuations more than bitcoin exposure. The move toward AI offers higher and more stable margins compared to traditional mining, especially after the April 2024 halving, which raised production costs to roughly $92,000 per bitcoin — projected to reach $180,000 after the next halving in 2028. Analysts say this trend favors large, well-funded miners capable of shifting between AI and bitcoin operations, while smaller firms are diversifying into other areas like Ethereum and Solana treasuries.